Hood latch



Jan. 26, 1932. N. A. MEARS 1,842,557

HOOD LATCH Filed July 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 26, 1932. s'1,842,557

HOOD LATCH Filed July 5, 1928 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Attorngy? Fatenteol den.26, I932 PATENT OFFEOE NORTON A. MEARS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

FACTUEING COMPANY,

ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO FORGING & MANU- OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOF ILLINOIS HOOD LATCH Application filed July 5,

My invention relates to a securing member which is particularlyadaptable for use as a hood latch whereby an automobile hood or similarclosure may be held in position. One object of my invention is toprovide such a latch which shall urge such a closure not only downwardlybut laterally. Another objectis the provision of such a latch whichshall compensate for and conform to changes in relation of the closureto the abutment against which it is thrust and which shall compensatefor changes in the position of the latch engaging member on the closure.Another object is the provision of a device of the type herein describedwhich shall be cheaply manufactured and eiiicient in use. Other objectswill appear from time to time in the course of the specification andclaims.

1 illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section similar to Figure 2 through a variant form of mydevice;

Figure 4- is a detail of the form of abutment shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical section through a further variant form;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 77 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a vertical. section through a further variant form.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificati onand drawings.

A generally indicates an automobile frame and A the lower portion of thehood. The lower edge of the hood abuts against an abu ment herein shownas the channel member A secured upon the base or frame B generallyindicates a latch abutment adjustably mounted on the hood as by thebolts or rivets B and the apertures The plurality of vertically alignedapertures permits a selection as to the initial location of the member Bit not being generally necessary after the device is installed to changeits lo- 1928. Serial No. 290/l77.

cation. In case of necessity, however, the apertures 13 do permit of achange of location. B indicates an outwardly projecting lip or flangealong the bottom of the member B. The member B is herein shown, as inFigure 1, as arcuate or rounded in cross-section both in a planeparallel with the face of the hood and in a plane perpendicular to it.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 C indicates a base membersecured to the frame member A as by the bolts 0 and nuts C It includesthe upwardly extending collar C which receives and holds the tube C Sucha tube is inwardly upset at the top as at C to leave an apertureconforming generally in shape and diameter to the pin D. The pin isprovided at its bottom with a head D and passes through a washer orabutment member D The spring D is compressed between such washer and thehead D and tends normally to draw the pin D downwardly towards the frameA in the dotted line position shown in Figure 2.

Pivoted to the upper end of the pin D is the combined handle and latchmember gen erally indicated as E which includes the latch or togglemember E the lower end of which, rounded as at E is adapted to engagethe abutment member B on the hood A Associated with the toggle or latchmember E and herein shown as integral with it is the handle or fingerring E The lower portion of the member E, more or less squared as at Eis adapted to engage the top of the tube C when the latch is releasedand takes the dotted line position shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5 a variant form of the device is shown,the pin D being provided with the handle member generally indicated as Gwhich includes the shroud G surrounding the upper end of the tube, thehandle portion proper G and the laterally projecting lug G Pivoted tosaid lug is the toggle or lever Gr with the rounded end G adapted toengage the abutment member B G indicates a coil spring adapted 11ormallyto yieldingly move the member G toward the side of the hood A and awayfrom the shroud G when it is released from the abutment B A variation ofthe end Gr of the member G is shown, which is also applicable to themember E shown in Figures 1 and 2. It is provided with a central notchor channel H adapted to seat upon a ridge or projection H formed in theabutment member B Referring to Figures 6 and 7 I illustrate a variantform of my device in which the handle member J is secured to the top ofthe pin D and is provided with a lug or plurality of lugs J throughwhich passes the pivot pin J to which are pivoted the arms J 3 whichjoin to form the latch or toggle member J 4 the lip or end J of which isadapted to engage the abutment member B J indicates a spring or similaryielding means tending normally to hold the latch in the position shownin Figure 6.

Figure 8 indicates a further variant'form in which in the place of thefixed cylindrical guide C of the other forms the pin K is fixed in thebase member K and is therefore normally rigid in relation to the frameA. The pin K is provided at its upper end with an enlargement K adaptedto act as abutment for the spring L. r

L indicates a cylinder surrounding said pin and spring and provided atthe bottom with the inturned portion L which serves to hold the washeror spring abutment L The normal effect of the spring L is to move thecylinder L downwardly along the pin K. Secured to the upper end of thecylinder L is the head portion L herein shown as sur rounding the end ofthe tube or cylinder. It includes the upwardly extending lugs L to whichis pivoted the toggle member L to which is associated the handle orfinger ring L. L is a fiat spring opposed to the por tion L of thehandle member and is adapted normally to urge it into the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 8, when it is withdrawn from the abutment B Itwill be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical andoperative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size,shape, number and disposition of parts. I therefore wish my descriptionand drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative anddiagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing.

The'use and operation of my invention are as follows: i

Stated generally the general characteristic of my invention is theemployment of a guide, the tube C or the pin K, which projects upwardlyin generally fixed position on the frame A. It may be parallel with theface of the hood A or it may be inclined thereto, but it is preferablethat whatever its relation, it be a constant relation, the tube or pinserving as a fixed guide. Upon such fixed guide I position a movableelement, the pin D of Figures 1 to 7 or the cylinder or tube L of Figure8. Upon this movable member I position a lever or latch or toggle whichis in flexible or pivotal relation with the moving member. The length ofsuch latch member must exceed the distance between the movable member.and guide and the opposed abutment B on the hood. Since the spring D orL tends to urge the movable tube or pin downwardly along the fixed guideand since the pivot of the latch is positioned substantially above thepoint of engagement between the inside end of the latch and the abutmenton the hood, the downward movement of the movable member tends not onlyto exert a downward thrust against the member 13 but also to direct alateral thrust. When, in response to such downward thrust the hood ismoved as far downwardly as itcan, further downward movement of themovable member tends to clamp the hood inwardly against the abutment Aand when this movement is effected, no further downward movement ispossible. Rattle and displacement isprevented and the lower edge of thehood is firmly but yieldingly locked against the abutment A There aremany variations possible without departing from the spirit of myinvention and I have illustrated a fixed tube as a guide for a movablepin and a fixed pin as a guide for a movable tube. I have also shown, asin Figures 1, 2 and 8, a combined handle and latch member pivoted to amovable pin or tube, whereas in Figures 3, 5, 6 and 7 I have illustratedhandle members fixed in relation to the movable member, the latch memberbeing pivoted to the handle member or to the movable member. In allcases the general principle of operation is identical, the downwardmovement of the movable member causing both downward and inward pressure against the hood.

I find it under some circumstances preferable to provide yielding meansfor withdrawing the latch from alignment with the abutment B when thelatch is released. In the form of Figure 2 the spring D has this effect,drawing the portion E of the handle member down against the top of thetube 0*. In Figures 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 I employ separate spring meanstending to withdraw the latch member when released. I may, if I wish,dispense with such means, particularly in the forms wherein the latchand handle are united. In such case when the handle is upwardly drawn torelease the latch the handle and latch may be rotated out of alignmentwith the abutment B the fixed member and the movable member beingpreferablynot held against rotation.

I claim: 7

1. In combination, a closure having a latch engaging means thereon, agenerally fixed guide positioned adjacent said closure memher, a movablemember axially movable in.

relation to said guide, yielding means for urging it downwardly alongsaid guide, a latch member pivoted to said movable member, the outer endof the latch member being adaptea to engage the latch engaging means onthe closure member, the length of said latch member from pivot point toend being more than the distance separating the pivot point and theopposed closure, the point of engagement of the latch member with theopposed latch engaging means being spaced laterally from the path ofmovement of the movable member, and toward the closure, and additionalyielding means for withdrawing said latch member from said closure whenreleased from said latch engaging means.

2. In combination, a closure having a latch engaging means thereon, afixed tubular guide positioned adjacent said closure mema pin axiallymovable in said guide, a spring, compressed between said guide and pinand adapted normally to move said pin downwardly in relation to saidguide, and a unitary handle and a latch member pivoted to the upper endof said pin exteriorly of said guide, the point of engagement of thelatch member with the opposed latch engaging means being spacedlaterally from the guide, and toward the closure.

3. In combination, an automobile hood having a latch engaging meansthereon, a member, mounted adjacent to but laterally spaced away fromsaid hood, and means for constraining such member to movement along agenerally upright axis adjacent the face of said hood, a unitary handleand a latch member pivoted to said movable member, the outer end of thelatch member being adapted to engage the latch engaging means on thehood, the length of said latch member from pivot point to the hoodengaging end being greater than the distance separating the pivot pointand the hood, said pivot point being laterally outwardly spaced from thepoint of engagement of latch member and hood.

t. In combination, an automobile hood having a latch engaging meansthereon, a member, mounted adjacent to but laterally spaced away fromsaid hood, and means for constraining such member to movement along agenerally upright axis adjacent the face of said hood, including anormally rigid guiding member mounted adjacent the automobile hood, aunitary handle and a latch member pivoted to said movable member, theouter end of the latch member being adapted to engage the latch engagingmeans on the hood, the length of said latch member from pivot point tothe hood engaging end being greater than the distance separating thepivot point and the hood, said pivot point being laterally outwardlyspaced from the point of engagement of latch member and hood.

5. in combination, an automobile hood having a latch engaging meansthereon, a member, mounted adjacent to but laterally spaced away fromsaid hood, and means for constraining such member to movement along agenerally upright axis adjacent the face of said hood, a unitary handleand a latch member flexibly mounted upon said movable memher, the outerend of the latch member being adapted to engage the latch engaging meanson the hood, the length of said latch memher from its point ofconnection with the movable member to the hood engaging end beinggreater than the distance separating the pivot point and the hood, theconnection between the latch member and the movable member beinglaterally outwardly spaced from the point of engagement of latch memberand hood.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 26th dayof June, 1928.

NORTON A. MEARS.

